經典中國歷史故事

　　中國歷史上下五千年，在這悠長的歷史長河中，中國有著不少經典的歷史故事值得後人思考。下面小編為大家帶來，歡迎大家閱讀!

　　：名落孫山

　　In the Song Dynasty***960-1279*** there was a joker called Sun Shan.

　　宋代有一個名叫孫山的才子，他為人幽默，很善於說笑話，所以人稱滑稽才子。

　　One year he went to take the imperial examination, and came bottom of the list of successful candidates. Back in his hometown, one of his neighbours asked him whether the neighbour's son had also passed. Sun Shan said, with a smile: "Sun Shan was the last on the list, your son came after Sun Shan."

　　一年，他和一個同鄉的兒子去京城參加舉人的考試。放榜的時候，孫山的名字雖然列在榜文的倒數第一名，但仍然是榜上有名，而他那位同鄉的兒子，卻沒能考上。不久，孫山先回到家裡，同鄉便來問他自己的兒子有沒有考取。孫山既不好意思直說，又不便隱瞞，於是，就隨口唸出兩句不成詩的詩句來：解元盡處是孫山，賢郎更在孫山外。解元，就是我國科舉制度所規定的舉人的第一名。而孫山在詩裡所謂的解元，乃是泛指一般考取的舉人。他的意思是說：舉人榜上的最後一名是我孫山，而令郎的名字卻還在我孫山的後面。

　　Later, people used this idiom to indicate failing in an examination or competition.

　　從此，人們便根據這個故事，把投考學校或參加各種考試沒有被錄取叫做名落孫山。

　　：破釜沉舟

　　During the late years of the Qi Dynasty***221-206BC***, Xiang Yu led a rebellion. After crossing the Zhang River, Xiang Yu ordered his men to sink all their boats and break their cooking pots. He issued each soldier three days' rations***給養*** and warned them that there was no way to retreat; the only thing they could do to survive was to advance and fight. After mine fierce battles, the Qin army was finally defeated.

　　This idiom is used to indicate one's firm determination to achieve one's goal at any cost.

　　秦朝末年，秦軍大將章邯攻打趙國。趙軍退守鉅鹿***今河北平鄉西南***，並被秦軍重重包圍。楚懷王於是封宋義為上將軍，項羽為副將率軍救援趙國。

　　宋義引兵至安陽***今山東曹縣東南***後，接連46天按兵不動，對此項羽十分不満，於是要求進軍決戰，解困趙國。但宋義卻希望秦趙兩軍交戰後待秦軍力竭之後才進攻。

　　但此時軍中糧草缺乏士卒困頓，而宋義仍舊飲酒自顧，項羽見此忍無可忍，進營帳殺了宋義，並聲稱他叛國反楚。於是將士們則擁項羽為上將軍。項羽殺宋義的事，威震楚國，名聞諸侯。

　　隨後，他率所有軍隊悉數渡黃河前去營救趙國以解鉅鹿之圍。項羽在全軍渡黃河之後他下令把所有的船隻鑿沉，打破燒飯用的鍋，燒掉自己的營房，只帶三天干糧，以此表決一死戰，沒有一點後退的打算。

　　正是這樣已無退路的大軍到了鉅鹿外圍，幷包圍了秦軍和截斷秦軍外聯的通道。楚軍戰士以一當十，殺伐聲驚天動地。經過九次的激戰，楚軍最終大破秦軍。而前來增援的其他各路諸侯卻都因膽怯，不敢近前。楚軍的驍勇善戰大大提高了項羽的聲威。以至戰勝後，項羽於轅門接見各路諸侯時，各諸侯皆不敢正眼眼看項羽。

　　後來，“皆沉船，破釜甑”演化為成語“破釜沉舟”，以比喻拚死一戰，決心很大。

　　：騎虎難下

　　Yang Jian was the regent***攝政王*** of the last king of Northern Zhou***557-581***. His wife advised him: "Northern Zhou is dying. Now it is as if you are riding on the back of a tiger. It will be dangerous to dismount***下馬，下車*** . You can do nothing but continue." Yang Jian thought this quite reasonable. Later, he founded the Sui Dynasty, and united China once more.

　　This idom is used as a metaphor meaning that one is in a difficult situation and cannot help but ontinue to pursue one's sourse.

　　騎虎難下典故：晉朝時期，鎮守歷陽的將領蘇峻和祖約以誅殺朝廷奸臣為名，率領軍隊進入都城建康，把持了朝中大權。

　　江州刺史溫嶠***qiáo***聽說叛軍在都城作亂，立刻挺身而出，擁戴徵西大將軍陶侃為盟主，起兵討伐叛軍。由於叛軍人多勢眾，陶侃接連吃了幾次敗仗，有些沉不住氣了，開始埋怨溫嶠過高估計了自己的實力。溫嶠說：“戰勝叛軍的關鍵在於隊伍的團結，而不能是一盤散沙。當年劉秀救昆陽，曹操戰官渡不都是團結一致，以少勝多的典範嗎?叛軍只憑一時氣盛攻佔了都城，他們利慾薰心，是一群烏合之眾，只要我們團結努力，就一定能戰勝他們。現在國難當頭，我們仗義討伐叛軍，順人心，合民意，決不能後退。這就好比騎在老虎身上，如果，不把它打死，怎麼能半途從它身上跳下來呢?”

　　陶侃聽了溫嶠的話，覺得很有道理，重新樹立了作戰信心。他和溫嶠仔細商議對策，從水陸兩路進攻，終於打敗了叛軍。

　　騎虎難下意思：騎在老虎背上不能下來。比喻做一件事情繼續下去有困難，但情況又不允許中途停止，陷於進退兩難的境地。

　　：按圖索驥

　　During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man in the State of Qin whose name was Sun Yang. Sun Yang was very expert in looking at horses and judging their worth. Whatever the horse might be, he could tell whether it was good or bad at first sight. People called him Bo Le ***Bo Le was the name of one of the celestial bodies and was fabled to be in charge of heavenly steeds***, and he was often asked to appraise and select horses.

　　春秋時候，秦國有個叫孫陽的人，擅長相馬，無論什麼樣的馬，他一眼就能分出優劣。他常常被人請去識馬、選馬，人們都稱他為伯樂***“伯樂”本是天上的星名，據說負責管理天馬***。

　　One day, when Sun Yang was passing a place, an old horse pulling a cart loaded with salt suddenly neighed to him without stopping. He came near, and saw that it was a horse that really could cover a thousand Li a day, and that the only problem with it was that it was a little too old. The old horse was pulling the heavy cart with difficulties and hardships. Sun Yang felt acutely that the horse was really unjustly treated, for it might have been a fine steed galloping on the battlefield. It was a great pity that it was pulling the cart loaded with salt without attracting public attention, which had taken the edge off its spirit and consumed its energy. When he thought of this, he was so grieved that he shed tears.

　　有一次，孫陽路過一個地方，忽見一匹拖著鹽車的老馬衝他叫個不停，走近一看，原來是匹千里馬，只是年齡稍大了點。老馬拉著車艱難地走著，孫陽覺得太委屈了這匹千里馬，它本是可以奔跑於疆場，可以發揮更大作用的寶馬良駒，現在卻默默無聞地拖著鹽車，慢慢地消耗著它的銳氣和體力，實在可惜!孫陽想到這裡，難過得落下淚來。

　　In order to help more people learn how to appraise horses so that fine horses which could cover a thousand LI a day would no longer fall into oblivion, and also in order to ensure that his unique skill in judging horses would not be lost, Sun Yang worte a book entitled The Art of Looking at Horses and Judging Their Worth, based on his experiences and knowledge accumulated over the years. The book was also illustrated with the pictures of various horses.

　　為了讓更多的人學會相馬，使千里馬不再被埋沒，也為了自己一身絕技不至於失傳，孫陽把自己多年積累的相馬經驗和知識寫成了一本書，配上各種馬的形態圖，書名叫《相馬經》。

　　Sun Yang had a son who, after reading his father's The Art of Looking at Horses and Judging Their Worth, thought it was very esay to appraise horses. So he took the book with him to look for fine horses everywhere. At first he searched according to the pictures in the book, and accomplished nothing. Then he searched according to the characteristics of a toad fit very well the characteristics described in the book. So he happily took the toad back home, and said to his father, "Father, I have found a horse that can cover a thousand Li a day, only its hoofs are not good enough." Looking at the toad, Sun Yang did not know whether he should laugh or cry. Knowing that his son was stupid, Sun Yang said humourously. "It's a pity that this horse is too fond of jumping to pull a cart." Then he sighed, "That is just what we call looking for a steed with the aid of its picture."

　　孫陽有個兒子，父親寫的《相馬經》，以為相馬很容易，就拿著這本書到處找好馬。他按照書上所繪的圖形去找，一無所獲。又按書中所寫的特徵去找，最後發現有一隻癩蛤蟆很像書中寫的千里馬的特徵，便高興地把癩蛤蟆帶回家，對父親說：“爸爸，我找到一匹千里馬，只是蹄子稍差些。”父親一看，哭笑不得，沒想到兒子竟如此愚笨，便幽默地說：“可惜這馬太喜歡跳了，不能用來拉車。”接著感嘆道：“所謂按圖索驥也。”

　　Later, people have used the set phrase "look for a steed with the aid of its picture" to refer to handling affairs mechanically in the outmoded ways without being flexible. Somethimes it is also used to refer to trying to locate something by following up a clue. This set phrase originates in Lumbering in the Forest of Art written by Yang Shen in the Ming Dynasty ***1368-1644***.

　　故事出自明朝楊慎的《藝林伐山》。成語“按圖索驥”，比喻機械地照老辦法辦事，不知變通;也比喻按照某種線索去尋找事物。

　　：如火如荼

　　In the years around 480 B.C.,China was in the last phase of the Spring and Autumn Period.Fu Chai,King of the State of Wu,conquered the states of Yue,Lu and Chi one after another.Then Fu Chai,overweeningly ambitious,led his army marching into the Northwest in an attempt to conquer the State of Jin in one vigorous effort.

　　春秋時代末期，吳國國王夫差連續征服了越國、魯國和齊國，雄心勃勃，又繼續向西北進軍，打算一鼓作氣征服晉國。

　　But just at that time,Gou Jian,king of the State of Yue,outflanked Fu Chai and attacked him in the rear.Gou Jian's army fought one battle after another and arrived in Gu Su,capital of the State of Wu,at last,and took away the big boats of the State of Wu.Gou Jin also sent his troops to occupy the Huai River immediately,thus cutting off Fu Chai's retreat.

　　可正在這個時候，越王勾踐抄了吳王的後路。他帶領軍隊一直打到吳國的國都姑蘇***蘇州***，又派人馬佔據淮河，把吳王的退路切斷了。

　　The shocking news reached Fu Chai,king of the State of Wu,like a head-on blow to him.So he called his civilian officials and military generals at once to find a way to deal with this serious situation.His civilian officials and military their troops now would mean defeat,and that they would be attacked by both the troops of the Jin army and the troops of the Yue army.But ,if they could defeat the State of Jin,Fu Chai would become a powerful chief of the princes at that time,and it would not be too late for Fu Chai to settle with Gou Jian after that.

　　這訊息給吳王夫差當頭潑了一盆冷水，他非常震驚，立即召集文臣武將商量對策。大家說，現在退回去等於兩關打了敗仗，還會兩頭捱打;如果能打敗晉國，就等於在諸候國中當定了霸主，再回去收拾越王勾踐也不算晚。

　　Having made this decision,they knew that a pressing matter of the moment was to conquer th State of Jin as quickly as possible.After considering over and over again,they decided to try to defeat the Jin army by a surprise move.

　　大主意已經拿定，當務之急是儘快征服晉國。考慮再三，決定出奇制勝。

　　One day towards evening,the king of the State of Wu gave his orders.The officers and men of the whole army ate their fill,and the steeds were well fed with fodder.30,000 officers and men were chosen from the whole army to from three phalanxes,with 10,000officers and men each.The solders in the middle phalanx wore white suits of armour,and carried white flags and white bows and arrows,and they were led by king of the State of Wu Fu Chai himself.The other two phalanxes were led by senior generals.The soldiers in the left phalanx wore red suits of armour,and carried red flags and red bows and arrows.The in dealing with the case,because the empress would certainly blame him and punish him.How could he solve the problem then? He turned the problem over and over in his mind, and finally thought out a "brilliant scheme".

　　一天傍晚，吳王下達了命令。全軍將士吃得飽飽的，馬也喂足了草料。從全軍中挑出三萬精兵強將。每一萬人擺成一個方陣，共擺三個方陣。每個方陣橫豎都是一百人。每一行排頭的都是軍官司。每十行，也就是一千人，由一個大夫負責。每項一個方陣由一名將軍率領。

　　Lai Junchen had a sumptuous feast prepared,and invited Zhou Xing to his home. The two of them urged each other to drink,and they talked while drinking.After the wine had gone round three times,I often come across prisoners who stubbournly refuse to admit they are guilty.I wonder if you have any effective measures. " Hearing this,Zhou Xing said,"Get a big vat,scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around,and then let the prisoner come into the vat.Will the prisoner fail to make a comfession of his crime?"Hearing this,LaiJunchen nodded his head in approval repeatedly.He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat ,and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said.He then turned to Zhou Xing and said,"Someone in the rebellion.The empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely.So I beg your pardon,but would you kindly step into the soldiers in the right phalanx wore black suits of armour,and carried black flags and black bows and arrows.The whole army set out at midnight,and arrived at dawn at a place within a LI's distance of the Jin army.When the day was beginning to break,the soldiers of the Wu army began to berat the drums heavily and their shoutings resounded like rolls of thunder.

　　中間的方陣白盔白甲，白衣服，白旗幟，白弓箭，由吳王自己掌握，稱為中軍;左邊的方陣，紅盔紅甲、紅衣服、紅簡直就像深不可測;右邊的方陣則一水兒黑色。半夜出發，黎明時分到達離晉軍僅有一里路的地方。天色剛剛顯出亮色，吳軍鼓聲大作，歡呼之聲震天動工地。

　　Awakening from their dreams,the solders of the Jin army were almost stupefied by the imposing manner of the three phalanxes of the Wu army.The white phalanx was like a field covered with flowering rush,the red phalanx was like a burning fire,and the black phalanx was simply like a sea too deep to fathom.

　　晉軍從夢中醒來，一看吳軍那三個方陣和聲威氣勢，簡直都驚呆了：那白色方陣，“望之如荼”——像開滿白花的茅草地;那紅色方陣，“望之如火”——如像熊熊燃燒的火焰;而那黑色的方陣，簡直就象深不可測的大海。

　　This story comes from Comversations from the States.Later generations often use the set phrase "like fire and flowering rush"to refer to tremendous momentum.

　　故事出自《國語·吳語》。成語“如火如荼”，形容某種人群或事物陣容之大，氣勢之盛。